American Harvest Vodka

American Harvest Vodka is a grain-style vodka from Esplanda, and the name points to an agricultural base. The product details don't state the specific grain, the proof or the distillation method, so the character described here is what to expect from a straightforward, unflavored vodka of this kind. Grain-based vodkas usually come across as clean and lightly neutral. You'll typically find a faint cereal or bread-crust sweetness on the nose, a smooth, medium-weight texture, and a dry finish with little burn when it's served cold. Nothing has been added in the way of flavoring or sweeteners, so it works as a blank canvas that lets other ingredients lead. That neutrality is the reason to use it in drinks where precision matters. In a Martini, stir it with ice and a little dry vermouth. A lemon twist suits a grain vodka better than olives, because the oils brighten the soft grain character without covering it. A Moscow Mule is the most forgiving use. Pair it with a sharp ginger beer and fresh lime in a copper mug or a tall glass packed with ice, and the vodka adds backbone without competing with the ginger. For a Bloody Mary, its clean profile lets tomato, horseradish, celery salt and Worcestershire show through, which is the point of the drink. A Cosmopolitan depends on balance. Shake the vodka with orange liqueur, cranberry and fresh lime juice, and the vodka stays in the background to keep the drink crisp rather than sugary. An Espresso Martini needs a vodka that won't fight the coffee. Shake it hard with fresh espresso and coffee liqueur so the drink gets a thick foam, and the vodka keeps the result from turning cloying. To drink it neat, keep the bottle in the freezer. The cold thickens the texture slightly and softens the alcohol. Serve it in a small chilled glass or over a large cube in a rocks glass. For a Martini, use a stemmed glass that has been chilled ahead of time, so the drink stays cold through the last sip. Neat, it goes well with salty and briny foods such as smoked fish, pickles, cured meats and salted nuts, and these cut the alcohol's edge cleanly.